Dances with Smurfs
"Dances with Smurfs" | |
---|---|
South Park episode | |
Episode no. | Season 13 Episode 13 |
Directed by | Trey Parker |
Written by | Trey Parker |
Production code | 1313 |
Original air date | November 11, 2009 |
"Dances with Smurfs" is the thirteenth episode of the
"Dances with Smurfs" serves as a parody of the political commentary style of
The episode received generally positive reviews. According to
Plot
Gordon Stoltski, a third grader who reads the South Park Elementary morning announcements, is shot dead in a
Cartman starts selling copies of his book, What Happened to My School?, outside the cafeteria where Stan Marsh confronts him. Angry because of Cartman's outrageous sexual lies about Wendy in his book, Stan tries to convince Cartman to stop selling the books to no avail. Stan then goes to Principal Victoria and Mr. Mackey again, who confront Cartman, and force him to stop selling his books on school grounds. This upsets Cartman, who accuses them of turning the school into a "socialist horror-land", and insists he is leaving the school. The next day, however, he appears on his show and spins a portrayal of himself in blue face-paint and suspenders, having somehow found Smurfland, becoming part of Smurf culture and eventually falling in love with Smurfette. Cartman then claims that Wendy bulldozed Smurfland and slaughtered the Smurfs to get their valuable Smurfberries, the complete story of which he has chronicled in his DVD docudrama, "Dances with Smurfs". While it is obvious that the footage of Wendy was really of Cartman in disguise, Butters Stotch and a furious mob of students go to Wendy's house to confront her. Butters pees on her front door and demands that she go on Cartman's morning announcements show to answer his questions.
On the "EC" set the next morning a reluctant Wendy joins Cartman (who has his sideburns dyed gray in make-up) who promises he will stick to school-related questions and go easy on her. However, as soon as filming begins, he immediately asks about her rumoured promiscuity and involvement in the Smurf genocide. To Cartman's surprise, Wendy claims she indeed bulldozed Smurfland to get the valuable Smurfberries, but alludes that Cartman was involved with the plot, and that the Smurfs would have left Smurfland if Cartman had not integrated himself with them. She steps down as student body president, turning the title over to Cartman, and announces her own new book
Production
"Dances with Smurfs" was written and directed by series co-founder
Theme
"Dances with Smurfs" served as a parody and social commentary of the political commentary style of
Cartman's televised morning announcements are patterned after the
Cultural references
"Dances with Smurfs" satirized Avatar, the 2009 science-fiction epic film directed by
When Wendy resigns as student body president, she announces the publication of her book, Going Rogue on the Smurfs. This is a reference to
Casey Miller, the student who competes against Cartman for the morning announcements, heavily resembles and speaks in a manner similar to radio personality Casey Kasem.[2][8]
Reception
Dances With Smurfs" had a few brilliantly funny moments, but overall the humor wasn't of the laugh out loud, milk coming out of your nose humor. It was smart comedy for those politically savvy viewers out there. Or fans of Smurfs. Your choice.
Carlos Delgado
iF magazine[2]
In its original American broadcast on November 11, 2009, "Dances with Smurfs" was watched by 1.47 million overall households among viewers aged between 18 and 34, according to
The episode received generally positive reviews. Ramsey Isler of IGN said Cartman worked well for a Beck satire, and said, "The real accomplishment of this episode is how it totally roasted a semi-political figure, without being political at all." However, Isler said the script loses focus with the appearance of the Smurfs, and that Gordon's death was disturbing and inappropriate in the light of recent school shootings in the United States.[1] The A.V. Club writer Sean O'Neal, a vocal critic of Beck, said mocking Beck is an easy task, but the episode "handled it with just enough of the show's usual surrealist bent that it was never wholly predictable". He praised some of the episode's unexpected elements, like Cartman's Smurf film and Wendy's surprise resignation.[7] Carlos Delgado of iF magazine said "Dances with Smurfs" became "a little strange" starting with Cartman's Smurf story, but he called the episode "smart, sharp, and poignant". Delgado said the episode had less "laugh out loud" humor than traditional South Park episodes, in favor of intelligent satire.[2] AOL Television writer Donald Deane called it one of the funniest episodes of the season.[8]
Home media
"Dances with Smurfs", along with the thirteen other episodes from South Park's thirteenth season, were released on a three-disc
References
- ^ a b c Isler, Ramsey (November 12, 2009). "South Park: "Dances with Smurfs" Review". IGN. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Delgado, Carlos (November 12, 2009). "TV Review: South Park – Season 13 – "Dancing With Smurfs"". iF magazine.
- ^ "Southpark: Not Some Dog". Zazzle. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ "southpark: The Poop Box". Zazzle. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ "southpark: Normal Kid". Zazzle. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ "Southpark: I Ask Questions". Zazzle. 2009-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- ^ a b c d O'Neal, Sean (November 11, 2009). "South Park: Dances With Smurfs". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Deane, Donald (November 12, 2009). ""South Park" Episode Skewered Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and Others". HuffPostTV. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
- ^ Premiere Radio Networks. Radio City Music Hall. South Park hits Glenn.
- ^ a b c Tyler, Josh (November 12, 2009). "South Park Parodies Avatar With The Smurfs". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
- ^ Ryzik, Melena (January 4, 2010). "Dances With Smurfs". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
- ^ Telese, Chauncey (December 30, 2009). "Avatar: The LeBron James Of Movies". KHTS (AM). Retrieved January 9, 2010.
- ^ King, Randall (November 27, 2009). "Dashing through the shows: Your guide to holiday movie fare". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- Irish Times. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ Chipman, Bob (December 18, 2009). "Going Native". The Escapist. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ Boucher, Geoff (August 14, 2009). "James Cameron: Yes, "Avatar" is "Dances with Wolves" in space...sorta". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
- ^ "James Cameron's Avatar premieres in London". BBC News. December 11, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
- ^ Seidman, Robert (November 18, 2009). "Again, FX's, Sons of Anarchy Rides to the Top of Cable Adults 18–49 Heap". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ "FX's Sons of Anarchy #1 Scripted Drama Among A18-49 + Other Cable TV Ratings | Your Entertainment Now". Archived from the original on 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
- ^ Foster, Dave (December 14, 2009). "South Park Season 13 (R1/US BD) in March". DVD Times. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
- ^ Liebman, Martin (March 5, 2010). "South Park: The Complete Thirteenth Season Blu-ray Review". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
External links
- "Dances with Smurfs" Full episode at South Park Studios
- "Dances with Smurfs" at IMDb